May 21st, 2009
Final MBBS is finally over.
2 mths away from starting working life.
Feels like breaking out from 1 prison just to enter another 1.
This is my 1st real backpacking experience. 1 have to stretch the money to go further, to as many places as possible, to understand the locals and their culture, to just be mesmerized by the beauty of man living in harmony with nature.
Taking the less charted routes, travelling with strangers, not holding yourself back on any impending adventure, allowing the youth of your heart to challenge your physical and psychological limits before time presses you down with a thumb.
So, Bali, here i come.
This is the view from Air Asia's low cost carrier terminal (LCCT).
Now every 1 can fly cheaper, with the compromise on comfort,
and the risk of acute pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis.
Haven't even left Malaysia yet and i'm already busy snapping away.
Looks like this is gonna be a long blog entry.:-p
Flew past the Sumatera and Java islands to reach Bali, southeast from Malaysia. Arrived at the Ngurah Rai airport, DENPASAR after 3 hours. No time difference between Bali and Kuala Lumpur, but just in case ur wondering, KL is 1 hr earlier than Jakarta.
Check out this very helpful website. The most updated 1 so far, and it shows maps of all the towns in minor details.
Took a cab from Ngurah Rai airport to KUTA, just 10-15 mins up north.
Airport cab cost about 50,000 Rp, which is about RM 15.
Here's the exchange rate:
1 Rupiah = 0.000363
10,000 Rupiah = RM 3
(I made it rm 3 instead of rm 3.6 so that its easier to count.)
Sounds confusing? Take it easy, will guide u along the way..
1st thing to do on arrival is to look for an accomodation.
Cheap stays in KUTA can be found in Poppies Lane and Poppies Lane II,
and they cannot be booked online.
Here's the map of KUTA, the busiest town and most happening tourist spot in Bali.
Price ranges from Rp75,000 to Rp200,000
(RM24 to RM60)
These are the cheapest price a backpacker could find.
Its nice to rent a bike and go around, but that would be too many things to absorb on a 1st day.
Take a stroll on foot, get familiarize with the area around your hotel.
Where and what to eat, tour packages around Bali,
information about surfing, the best hotel offer,
keeping an eye on shops to return for shopping later, etc.
Bali locals never fail to offer peace offerings in the form of incense and flowers
which can be found at altars, public places, pathways, shops,etc.
Bali is home to many temple or worship places.
There are statues and carvings of various idols everywhere around town.
I heard Yogyakarta of Java island, northwest from Bali is a mystical place with lots of temples.
This is Jalan Legion.
1 way street stretching from LEGION district up north southward towards KUTA
and its always jam especially night.
Its close to Poppies Lane II, site of terrorist bombing not too long ago, will tell more about it.
Why Jalan Legion is so busy is because its a place for dining, partying, drinking, hotels
& shopping, shopping, shopping.
Small boutique sells locally made T-shirts, sarong, surfer pants, scarfs, bikinis,
accessories eg bangles, bracelets, necklaces, and ear-rings.
Local attraction is definitely the sarongs.
Best deal can be found at Jalan Raya Kuta, TUBAN, opposite Joger.
Their sarongs, from the common to the better quality ones, cost RP 35,000 - RP 55,000
(Rm 11 - Rm 17).
ps* Since Kuta is the most densely populated tourist spot, its wiser to shop at UBUD cenral market.
For those who has higher taste and are not backpacking like me,
Bali is home to many local designer's clothes.
Clothes range from men and ladies casual evening wear to formal, party-going, and beach wear.
Mostly catering for western and tropical asian appeal.
Bali has state-of-the-art wooden and metal crafts,
hailing from UBUD distrisct, home to arts and craft production/ manufacture.
Craft shops can be found at the outskirts of Ubud from Kuta,
or on the way to Tanah Lot temple from Ubud.
Crafts from wood, metal, even gold and silver never seize to amaze,
and lets not forget the paintings
Alternatively, antique lovers or home decor fans can always visit the souvenir shops in KUTA.
Fan of surfer clothes would find Bali a surfer shopping paradise.
Since Bali is an international surfing site, you can find surf wear and surf board from
Quicksilver, Billabong, Roxy, Ripcurl, etc.
Kuta is well known for night life, clubbing scene and life performances.
By midnight the heat will be turned on and young tourists from all around the world party until 3-4am.
Clubs along Jalan Kuta are highly competitive and introduces different themes each night
in order to keep things fresh.
Although some hits will inevitably be repeated its stil much better than the clubbing scene in Malaysia which fancy hip hop and even old school :_l
Its normal to see groups of young white surfer guys walking around shirtless
with bottles of beer in their hands.
If u get lucky u might entertain yourself with some occasinal brawl along the street.
Welcome to Kuta beach.
A long stretch of beach extending joining with Legion beach up north.
It was the end of May and the best time to surf is during high tide which was 7am-9am, and 2-4pm.
Kuta beach is mainly for sunbathing and surfing.
For watersports like parasailing, SANUR or Tanjung Benoa is the place.
Surfers from all over the world come to Bali for its ideal surf beaches and cheaper currency.
Quite a number from Australia and Japan, apart from US and europe.
Most adhere to surfing ettiquette, ie basically not to get into other surfer's way,
which is hard, and can end up in sport injury and surf board damage.
Surf boards along the beach for rent.
Professional surfers would own 1 and don't mind bringing it along with them by air.
Renting a surf board should cost RP100,000 to RP200,000
(Rm30- Rm60) for half day, after bargain.
The canopy part of the beach that sells chill drinks, Bintang beer and local food.
Jalan Raya Pantai Kuta along Kuta beach.
Come evening this 1 way street will be packed with ppl and slow-crawling traffic.
Hundreds of bikes parked along the street.
Ronald Mc Donald came to surf...
Something about the beach that is very lively and full of atmosphere.
Ppl's laughter, sound of the beating waves, the breeze sweeping over your skin, makes 1 feel attach to the beach its easy to let loose ur mind and thoughts.
Shera, Suchi and Angie, friends from Jakarta who are 3rd time in Bali.
They were very helpful being tour guides on my 1st day.
Had a little communication barrier though.
The sun slowly setting on sun-bathers, surfers and beach strollers.
A beauty to watch and a romantic place to be.
1 day in KUTA is never enough.
As the sun sets, so is my stomach getting hungry.
Thinking of the options of food i can choose from makes me salivate.
Aware that i'm on a tight budget trip, i could allow myself Masakan Padang at the moment.
Masakan Padang is Bali's local indonesian cooking.
Its similar to malay food except that its tastier (thats my opinion only) probably due to the spices.
It could be spicy if u want it to.
1 plate with rice, chicken or fish, and a type of veg cost ~ RP 12,5000 (~Rm 4)
which is not sufficient for a hungry Asian guy.
Kuta is simply beating with life throughout the day.
Surfing comes to life as early as 7am, shopping and dining at 9am, party at 10pm,
The only time the town sleeps is at dawn.
There are so much in Kuta to keep 1 occupied until 1 can be deceived BALI is only about Kuta.
But no, Bali can be at the same time pampering, comforting and mystical that 1 can easily develop an attachment to this land.
Downside is, as torrents of tourists flood in all year round, a place can never remain a santuary.
IAnyway, do follow me on my next blog as i venture UBUD and TANAH LOT.
No comments:
Post a Comment